Dolphins NFL draft options: Defensive backs

If the Dolphins think cornerback Cam Smith, 2023's second-round pick, will develop into a major contributor they won't need to consider drafting a defensive back this year. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston) — If the Dolphins think cornerback Cam Smith, 2023’s second-round pick, will develop into a major contributor they won’t need to consider drafting a defensive back this year. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

By Chris Perkins | South Florida Sun Sentinel

April 16, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its nine-part series previewing top players in the 2024 NFL draft (April 25-27) with the defensive backs.

This collection of defensive backs is solid in the middle but not at the top. There could be five or six cornerbacks selected in the first round, and possibly one safety depending on where Iowa’s Cooper DeJean is projected to play, but perhaps none gets selected until the middle of the first round or so.

After that, however, cornerbacks might occupy five of the remaining 15 or 20 picks.

Depending on your point of view, the Miami Dolphins could be loaded in the secondary or they could have a lot of proving to do.

Either way, Miami could certainly use a safety and, as the Dolphins have demonstrated the past two seasons under coach Mike McDaniel, you can never have too many cornerbacks.

All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey will be a starter on one side, and either newly-signed Kendall Fuller (from Washington), returnee Kader Kohou, last year’s starter in the slot, or Cam Smith, last year’s second-round pick, will start on the other side.

The slot could be Kohou or cornerback Nik Needham, who basically missed the 2023 season recovering from an Achilles injury.

At safeties the Dolphins have a good set in returnee Jevon Holland, who is on the brink of Pro Bowl status, and newly-signed Jordan Poyer (Buffalo), who is older but still high quality. Behind them is returnee Elijah Campbell, a special teams specialist who has shown promise in limited time from scrimmage.

Miami also has cornerback/safety Ethan Bonner, and cornerback Siran Neal, a special teams standout. Overall, it’s not a deep crew in the secondary.

The Dolphins have six picks in the draft. The Dolphins’ first-round pick is No. 21, and they also have a second (No. 55), a fifth (No. 158), two sixths (Nos. 184 and 198), and one seventh (No. 241).

Here’s a breakdown of the top defensive backs in the draft:

CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

DeJean (6-1, 203) might project as a safety because he’s considered to be someone who plays better in zone coverage and better with his eyes facing the quarterback. Still, he’s an athletic freak. The first-team All-America selection had seven interceptions in the past two seasons and returned three for touchdowns in 2022.

CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo

Mitchell (6-0, 195) has amazing ball skills. He had a FBS-leading 25 passes defended in 2022, and 18 pass breakups in 2023. His instincts are top notch, he’s physical and likes to tackle. He should be a top 15 selection.

CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

Arnold (6-0, 189) is a highly-competitive player who could use a little more polishing on some details, but he’s a certain first-round talent. The first-team All-America selection had five picks and 17 passes defended in 14 games.

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

McKinstry (5-11, 199), who might have the most memorable name in the draft, isn’t flashy but he’s a fundamentally solid veteran with a high football IQ. McKinstry was a three-year starter who had 15 pass breakups in 2022.

CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

Wiggins (6-1, 173) is slender with a high ceiling. He’s fluid with superb coverage skills and excellent speed (4.28 seconds in 40-yard dash), which give him all the measurables to be an outstanding cornerback. He’s not good in run support but it’s tough to complete a pass against him.

Best of the rest

Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is long and agile, but not necessarily strong; Minnesota S Tyler Nubin is physical against the run with strong ball skills; Georgia S Javon Bullard (5-11, 198) is a ’tweener physically but he can play both safety positions and the slot; Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter is a ball hawk who can play slot and safety; Washington State S Jaden Hicks is big and instinctive but not necessarily athletic; USC S Calen Bullock is physical but needs work on run support; University of Miami S Kamren Kinchens is smart, tough and instinctive but his 4.65-second 40-yard dash time might give teams reason to pause.

Class grade: B

It seems the best talent of this class is crunched between the middle of the first round and the end of the second round. The cornerbacks and safeties in this range are loaded with immediate starting potential and a generous amount of potential Pro Bowl talent. Overall, there’s no top 10 talent, and beginning in the third round the defensive backs are about what you’d expect. But when there’s a late Day 1-/early Day-2 run on these guys, some good ones will be selected.

Teams in need

Arizona, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Atlanta, New York Jets, Denver, Indianapolis, Seattle, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Baltimore.

Dolphins’ focus

The thing to watch here is whether the Dolphins, who could definitely use new blood at safety and might need some new blood at cornerback, decide to select a defensive back in the first two rounds. It’s doubtful, but possible. If Ramsey, Kohou, Smith, Fuller, Needham and Poyer all meet expectations, the Dolphins are solid in the secondary.

Realistically, however, it’s doubtful that they all meet expectations. And the fifth-, sixth- and seventh-round picks can’t be counted on as immediate contributors from scrimmage. The most likely scenario, however, is the Dolphins don’t draft a defensive back in the first two rounds.